Does Manually Shifting the A4 Tranny do any damage???
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,905
Likes: 569
From: Bucks County PA
Does Manually Shifting the A4 Tranny do any damage???
Let's face it, the A4 is a great performing tranny, but BORING to drive.
At the track I know to just leave it in "3" and stomp it, heck I ran a 12.5 that way.
But,
When cruising around town I feel the need to shift gears.
Not at full throttle mind you, but just normally accelerating and shifting 1-2-3-4 for FUN and to make the exhaust sing a bit by holding the gear a little longer than it normally would do on its own.
Also, when coming to a light I love to downshift 3-2 to make my Exhaust purr.
Does this damage the tranny at all.
In the old days I was told it is ok to upshift, but not to downshift.
Does anybody know for sure?
Howard
At the track I know to just leave it in "3" and stomp it, heck I ran a 12.5 that way.
But,
When cruising around town I feel the need to shift gears.
Not at full throttle mind you, but just normally accelerating and shifting 1-2-3-4 for FUN and to make the exhaust sing a bit by holding the gear a little longer than it normally would do on its own.
Also, when coming to a light I love to downshift 3-2 to make my Exhaust purr.
Does this damage the tranny at all.
In the old days I was told it is ok to upshift, but not to downshift.
Does anybody know for sure?
Howard
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Originally Posted by yell03
Let's face it, the A4 is a great performing tranny, but BORING to drive.
Originally Posted by yell03
At the track I know to just leave it in "3" and stomp it, heck I ran a 12.5 that way.
Originally Posted by yell03
But,
When cruising around town I feel the need to shift gears.
Not at full throttle mind you, but just normally accelerating and shifting 1-2-3-4 for FUN and to make the exhaust sing a bit by holding the gear a little longer than it normally would do on its own.
Also, when coming to a light I love to downshift 3-2 to make my Exhaust purr.
Does this damage the tranny at all.
In the old days I was told it is ok to upshift, but not to downshift.
Does anybody know for sure?
Howard
When cruising around town I feel the need to shift gears.
Not at full throttle mind you, but just normally accelerating and shifting 1-2-3-4 for FUN and to make the exhaust sing a bit by holding the gear a little longer than it normally would do on its own.
Also, when coming to a light I love to downshift 3-2 to make my Exhaust purr.
Does this damage the tranny at all.
In the old days I was told it is ok to upshift, but not to downshift.
Does anybody know for sure?
Howard
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
Likes: 27
From: Southampton NJ
manual downshifting is fine no different than kicking down when passing except engages quicker and i thought if you road raced put it in the gear you wanted so it wouldn't downshift and spin you out plus i thought that feature was built in
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 45,472
Likes: 892
From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Manually downshifting to accellerate is one thing - there's no harm because the tranny would have executed the downshift anyway. And manually upshifting does not hurt anything either. But downshifting as you decellerate (a.k.a. engine braking) will add wear to your tranny needlessly. The business end of an auto tranny is made up of several alternating steel plates. Every other plate has material similar to that on a clutch (or brake pad) known as "fibers" and the pads in between are plain steel, known as "steels". Hydraulic pressure (controlled by the valve body and other items) compresses these plates together during the upshifts and downshifts. The main reason for a rebuild of a worn automatic transmission is to replace the steels and fibers. So by engine braking with an auto tranny, you are increasing the wear rate of the fibers.
Will you destroy your tranny overnight by doing this? No. You are just wearing it out a little faster. It's much easier/cheaper to replace brake pads than rebuild a transmission.
p.s. the same thing applies to a manual transmission, except in that case, you are wearing the clutch prematurely.
Will you destroy your tranny overnight by doing this? No. You are just wearing it out a little faster. It's much easier/cheaper to replace brake pads than rebuild a transmission.
p.s. the same thing applies to a manual transmission, except in that case, you are wearing the clutch prematurely.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,905
Likes: 569
From: Bucks County PA
Upshifting is what I really enjoy the most and that question has been answered,
but sometimes in "3" or "D" the engine starts lugging and it wants to be put in 2nd without giving it more throttle to have it do so.
I am talking about speeds around 25-30mph where a gentle shift to 2nd makes it feel and sound alot better.
I think I have to decide on slightly increased tranny wear is worth the enjoyment.
I vote YES and I'll buy an extended warranty at 35 months if I still have the car.
As far as engine breaking, I'll refrain from that 90% of the time unless there is a cool car next to me.
Howard
but sometimes in "3" or "D" the engine starts lugging and it wants to be put in 2nd without giving it more throttle to have it do so.
I am talking about speeds around 25-30mph where a gentle shift to 2nd makes it feel and sound alot better.
I think I have to decide on slightly increased tranny wear is worth the enjoyment.
I vote YES and I'll buy an extended warranty at 35 months if I still have the car.
As far as engine breaking, I'll refrain from that 90% of the time unless there is a cool car next to me.
Howard
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 5
From: stafford country, va. Avatar: Me on turn 3 @ Bristol (The World's Fastest Half-Mile)
let me just ask this question, if i may.
why not just buy a manul, it's alot easier to have even more fun in and you don't have to drive around the 'automatically controlled' transmission.
why not just buy a manul, it's alot easier to have even more fun in and you don't have to drive around the 'automatically controlled' transmission.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,905
Likes: 569
From: Bucks County PA
I always keep one manual and one automatic sports car.
My wife drives a manual, but prefers an automatic.
My next car will most likely be a NEW Z06 if they ever come out with a paddle shifter.
Then again, I don't know if I can give up a Vert.
I better start making alot more $$$
Howard
My wife drives a manual, but prefers an automatic.
My next car will most likely be a NEW Z06 if they ever come out with a paddle shifter.
Then again, I don't know if I can give up a Vert.
I better start making alot more $$$
Howard
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,759
Likes: 539
From: AZ
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10-'11-'12-'13 '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Originally Posted by Zig
let me just ask this question, if i may.
why not just buy a manul, it's alot easier to have even more fun in and you don't have to drive around the 'automatically controlled' transmission.
why not just buy a manul, it's alot easier to have even more fun in and you don't have to drive around the 'automatically controlled' transmission.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
I have to agree whole-heartedly with “need-for-speed”. I’ve done a lot of “manual” shifting with my A4 (30,000 miles on the odometer) and the one thing I have noticed is that the A4 doesn’t like being shifted into first for engine-breaking. Not that I am doing this from speeds above approx. 25 mph. Don’t do this much because the A4 let’s you know it doesn’t like it.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
From: Stafford VA
I run my Z51 A4 in 2nd when the spirit moves me and traffic is light, it's a fun way to blast through 2 lane back roads at less than 100 mph. In 2nd on the tight back roads, there is plenty of engine braking to make the turns fun. I don't bother with manual upshifts, mine shifts fine by itself when the pedal is floored.
I love my A4, I can either drink coffee in bumper to bumper traffic or manually shift and let the beast stretch its legs.
Speaking of bumper to bumper traffic, I've found that keeping the transmission in 1st cuts down on the amount of braking as idle mph in D is usually faster than Wash DC traffic.
I love my A4, I can either drink coffee in bumper to bumper traffic or manually shift and let the beast stretch its legs.
Speaking of bumper to bumper traffic, I've found that keeping the transmission in 1st cuts down on the amount of braking as idle mph in D is usually faster than Wash DC traffic.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 1
From: Burlington County NJ
I downshift into 1st @ about 35 mph all the time in my mn6.
I wouldnt do it with any other car, but the c6 LOVES it and so do i
I wouldnt do it with any other car, but the c6 LOVES it and so do i
Originally Posted by yell03
Even manual trannies don't like to be downshifted in to 1st, it is too low of a gear.
Howard
Howard
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Floriduh
First let me qualify myself. I went to Auto trans school years ago on four different brands. I have rebuilt quite a few trans's including 700R4's ( Our A4's are a derivative of) The 3-4 clutch pack is one on it's weak points....... Now.... There is one thing you don't want to do is use 4th (OD) at low speeds. A powerful engine in a high gear is very hard on the transmission (3-4 clutch pack in particular). I know our transmissions are designed to handle the extra power, but why put extra stess on it. I only use OD at speeds above 60 an I have the 3.15 rear. You will barely notice any mileage difference and the car drives much nicer. Also in 3 you will be in 1:1 through the transmission so the planetary gears are not working like they are when the ratio is .7:1 as in OD.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 839
Likes: 0
From: Salinas Ca
Originally Posted by ByByBMW
I can't answer for anyone but me but with the A4, it's almost like having both trannys. 95% of the time I just use the auto functions but about 5% of the time, I can drive it like a clutchless manual. Granted it's not exactly the same but when all is said and done, It's a compromise I am most happy with.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 136
From: Simi Valley California
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'10, '15. '22-'23
Originally Posted by need-for-speed
Manually downshifting to accellerate is one thing - there's no harm because the tranny would have executed the downshift anyway. And manually upshifting does not hurt anything either. But downshifting as you decellerate (a.k.a. engine braking) will add wear to your tranny needlessly. The business end of an auto tranny is made up of several alternating steel plates. Every other plate has material similar to that on a clutch (or brake pad) known as "fibers" and the pads in between are plain steel, known as "steels". Hydraulic pressure (controlled by the valve body and other items) compresses these plates together during the upshifts and downshifts. The main reason for a rebuild of a worn automatic transmission is to replace the steels and fibers. So by engine braking with an auto tranny, you are increasing the wear rate of the fibers.
Will you destroy your tranny overnight by doing this? No. You are just wearing it out a little faster. It's much easier/cheaper to replace brake pads than rebuild a transmission.
p.s. the same thing applies to a manual transmission, except in that case, you are wearing the clutch prematurely.
Will you destroy your tranny overnight by doing this? No. You are just wearing it out a little faster. It's much easier/cheaper to replace brake pads than rebuild a transmission.
p.s. the same thing applies to a manual transmission, except in that case, you are wearing the clutch prematurely.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 45,472
Likes: 892
From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Originally Posted by C6 MoneyPit
Thanks for the info on automatic transmission basics! I for one had no clue how they worked!
Last edited by need-for-speed; Apr 20, 2006 at 10:26 PM.